Cloned HDD - getting 'This is not a genuine copy' message - HELP

[ZaphodB]

Windows 7 SP1 up to date.

This OS was supplied pre-installed by the manufacturer when the pc was purchased in Jan 2015.

It is a genuine, valid and activated copy.

It is sitting on a 2TB hard disk.

Using Acronis True Image 2020, I cloned this onto a larger 5TB hard disk.

Removed old drive from system, re-booted with new larger hard disk and got the following:

Black screen. In the bottom right-hand corner

Windows 7
Build 7601
This copy of Windows is not genuine

What do I do? It is a genuine copy of Windows and has been successfully cloned before (on the same machine) from a 1TB hard disk.

Is there any way round this?

Never seen this black screen before and it appears that I can't do anything - well, I can open Task Manager but that's about all.

Please help.

Thanks in advance,

Zaph

 

[samuria]

Put old disk back in backup activation tokens then restore to new disk 3 Tools to Backup and Restore Windows 7 and Vista OEM Activation License • Raymond.CC

 

[ZaphodB]

Put old disk back in backup activation tokens then restore to new disk 3 Tools to Backup and Restore Windows 7 and Vista OEM Activation License • Raymond.CC

Many thanks samuria.

The link is helpful but I'm not sure how it applies im ny case as the webpages refer to a clean install of Windows 7.

I have run the ABR tool and now have the OEM license (Raymond is correct when he says it doesn't match the CoA sticker on the outside of the machine) in the text file backup-key.txt and the activation certificate has been saved to the file backup-cert/xrm-ms

HOWEVER, there are 2 issues.

First is that the new drive is 5TB and as I understand it, Windows can only 'see' up to 2TB unless the HDD is using the GPT partitioning scheme (currently, mine is set to MBR).

Second, when the new HDD is installed in place of the old drive and boots, all I get is a black screen as mentioned in post #1 this thread. Nobody has told me how I can get past this to access things like USB flash drives in order to reinstall the relevant keys.

Acronis offered a choice between a partitioning the drive using MBR or the GPT option, so my first stab at sorting this out is to try and clone the drove again, this time using the GPT partitioning option and see where I get.

Would using the Advanced Tokens Manager be a better bet?

Art

 

[ZaphodB]

Okay - so an update.

This time - ostensibly doing exactly the same thing - the machine boots fine to the desktop with the new 5TB disk installed instead of the old 2TB disk. Indeed, I am using the 5TB disk now whilst writing this!

The disk partitions look as follows:



However, to access the rest of the 5TB disk, the partition scheme needs changing from MBR (which has a 2TB limitation) to GPT - yet the 'Convert to GPT' option is greyed out.

Any ideas?

I haven't yet run diskmgmt.msc as administrator, that's my next step. Trying that now.

Nope - still greyed out.

Next thing to check - whether the BIOS mode is UFEI. Trying that now.

Zaph

 

[samuria]

I wouldnt have one massive partition if it has problems you loose the lot if you split it you have better chance

 

[SIW2]

You will need 3rd party software. Aomei part assist can do it - needs the pro version.

Diskgenius free can do the conversion, but you will need to create the esp and msr partitions manually.

It will have to be done from outside of that installation. Either from another installation, or from winpe.

Then adjust bios. It might be your bios has a "both" setting.


AOMEI PART ASSIST PRO


HOW TO CONVERT TO GPT WITH DISKGENIUS

 

[ZaphodB]

You will need 3rd party software. Aomei part assist can do it - needs the pro version.

Diskgenius free can do the conversion, but you will need to create the esp and msr partitions manually.

It will have to be done from outside of that installation. Either from another installation, or from winpe.

Then adjust bios. It might be your bios has a "both" setting.

AOMEI PART ASSIST PRO

HOW TO CONVERT TO GPT WITH DISKGENIUS

Thanks for the post SIW2 but that went straight over my head. What are the esp and msr partitions?

Winpe is a version of Windows on a bootable USB flash memory stick - right?

I don't understand what you mean by "It might be your bios has a "both" setting".

Zaph

 

[SIW2]

What are the esp and msr partitions?

The esp is the system partition needed for efi boot. The msr is a small additional partition microsoft recommends but is not required.

Winpe is a version of Windows on a bootable USB flash memory stick - right?

That's close enough.

Next thing to check - whether the BIOS mode is UFEI. Trying that now.

Zaph

It might be your bios has a "both" setting.

 

[ZaphodB]

Hi SIW2

Found this explanation. Kind of what I meant - a 'slimmed down' version of Windows

Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) is a lightweight operating system used to undertake a limited set of tasks such as troubleshooting a Windows OS when it’s offline, performing recovery options, and installing a Windows OS.

Windows PE was aimed at replacing MS-DOS booting with ready-to-boot environments available instantly in CDs, flash drives, and other external storage devices.

Just looked at the lapop BIOS and it doesn't have UFEI (not surprising really as it is a 10 year old laptop).

Pretty sure the desktop BIOS does have UFEI. Will check later.

Zaph

 

[Oghma Infinium]

Hi ,

you may find a good tutorial here : Convert MBR to GPT
it applies to Win10 , but the process is the same for Win7

If you're looking for infos regarding how are booting WindowsNT6.0 (& above) on GPT drive in UEFI mode and MBR drive in legacy BIOS mode ; have a look here : Windows NT 6 boot process (warning , it's deeply technical)

You may also be aware of having a 'System Reserved' and its workarounds : What 'boot' & system volumes are ? (essential knowledge)
and how to get rid of the 'System Reserved' partion,safely (not like there : sevenforum tutorial )

there are also others tools to boot on GPT drive in Legacy BIOS mode , but these are highly experimental and may refer to what's called 'hybrid partitioning'

If you are looking for the genuine OEM tool to activate your PC : Windows 7 OEM – Applying OEM System Locked Preinstallation Activation , this works offline. You may check your ACPI tables for SLIC 2.1 with this tool FirmwareTablesView v1.01 , to be sure that you can use the OEM tool . you still have to know which Win7 was installed (HOME, PRO, ULTIMATE ..)

 

[RolandJS]

I wouldnt have one massive partition if it has problems you loose the lot if you split it you have better chance

+1! I too recommend having a separate data paritition, much less possibility of of data loss if OS craters and a restore or rebuild or reinstall is called for.

 

[ZaphodB]

Hi ,

you may find a good tutorial here : Convert MBR to GPT
it applies to Win10 , but the process is the same for Win7

If you're looking for infos regarding how are booting WindowsNT6.0 (& above) on GPT drive in UEFI mode and MBR drive in legacy BIOS mode ; have a look here : Windows NT 6 boot process (warning , it's deeply technical)

You may also be aware of having a 'System Reserved' and its workarounds : What 'boot' & system volumes are ? (essential knowledge)
and how to get rid of the 'System Reserved' partion,safely (not like there : sevenforum tutorial )

there are also others tools to boot on GPT drive in Legacy BIOS mode , but these are highly experimental and may refer to what's called 'hybrid partitioning'

If you are looking for the genuine OEM tool to activate your PC : Windows 7 OEM – Applying OEM System Locked Preinstallation Activation , this works offline. You may check your ACPI tables for SLIC 2.1 with this tool FirmwareTablesView v1.01 , to be sure that you can use the OEM tool . you still have to know which Win7 was installed (HOME, PRO, ULTIMATE ..)

That's fantastic info - many thanks.

I have run a tool (can't remember the name - somthing like APT - from raymond.cc) that has recovered the OEM licence and can be used to re-activate windows on the same machine but on a different hard disk (my scenario).

Zaph

 

[Oghma Infinium]

You're welcome

beware with advices that lead to use 'RWEverything'. This tool infects your UEFI in NvRAM.

Be sure of what really do software when they recover your product key with some software. Some had surprises :sarc: as many tools do not provide any relevant information.